July 30, 2008

During our mission trip to Jamaica, things didn't always go according to schedule. Which often led to some interesting experiences that we hadn't counted on.

On Monday morning, the Memphis group was supposed to start painting the Lucea church building. But for whatever reason, the paint wasn't there yet, and although we arrived at the church building around 8:00, the stores wouldn't open until 9:00. So painting would have to wait.

One of the options we were given was to go with the Chattanooga group to an elementary school. Sounded good to Laura and me, so we jumped in one of the vans that was going that way. From the beginning, I had been curious about daily life in Jamaica, and it seemed that seeing a school was a good way to start. The Chattanooga group had planned to do a puppet show and lead some songs for the kids, and we could help out with the songs, and just generally be there for wahtever would go on.

Along the way, we stopped to pick up Michael, the preacher for the Lucea church. He had brought along a mixer to plug in at the school for their sound system. Then in a few minutes, we arrived at the school.

The school itself was made up of two long buildings, each having two stories. The buildings faced each other, with a grass courtyard in between. The buildings were actually just single rows of classrooms with an exterior covered walkway outside. And like most other buildings we had already seen in Jamaica, the "windows" did not have any glass but were just openings for ventillation because there was no air conditioning. Painted on the outsides of the buildings were pictures of different people, and I recognized them as being the same people who were pictured on the different bills and coins I had seen.

As soon as we arrived, the school children started pouring out of their classrooms. We had already heard that all the kids in all the schools wear uniforms, but this was our first look at them. The boys all wore khaki shirts and shorts, which gave them almost a military look. And the girls all wore blue jumpers over red and white checked shirts. Which was a nice splash of color compared to the boys.

The children were all excited to see us - either that, or they were just excited to have a break from class. But their excitement seemed to be genuine, even if the teachers weren't all that excited over the interruption. The kids would even just reach out and touch us as we walked by, I suppose as their way of getting our attention. They posed for pictures, waved, smiled, shook hands, hugged. Very polite, but very excited.

Once some bit of order was restored, the kids lined up outside their classrooms, some on the lower walkways, some on the upper walkways. The Chattanooga group led songs from the grassy courtyard while others set up the small puppet stage. The kids new most of the songs, and sang along enthusiastically, especially on their favorites. The puppet show seemed to lose their interest slightly, but most likely it was because the kids at the far end of the building were having trouble hearing, even with the sound system.

I took a few minutes to look inside one of the classrooms that I was standing by, since all the students were outside. It looked like a typical classroom - chalkboards, artwork on the walls and hanging from the ceiling, backpacks with familiar cartoon characters. The days of the week, the months of the year, nouns, verbs, school rules. It all looked familiar, yet in some strange way slightly different.

When the puppet show ended, one of the Chattanooga guys led a prayer, and then we were done. But we couldn't leave without more talking, hugging, picture taking, waving, and smiling. They were happy to see us, and we were thankful for the warm reception.

Seems that both the Jamaican students and the Americans encouraged each other.

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." - Matthew 19:14

July 22, 2008

For our Jamaican mission trip, we would be working with the Church of Christ in Lucea, Jamaica. The Lucea church is supported by the East Brainerd Church of Christ in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and our trip was in conjunction with an East Brainerd group.

Our first exposure to the Lucea Church was on a Sunday morning, after arriving in Jamaica on a Saturday night. We all had breakfast together at the hotel in Montego Bay before driving about 45 minutes to Lucea.

When we arrived, Bible class had already started, so we came in and took our seats, causing a minor disruption in the class. But Brother Michael handled it well and picked up right where he left off.

Michael Gordon is the preacher for the Lucea congregation, and as such he is also the Bible class teacher for the adults, as is typical of small congregations. We came in during a lesson on spiritual gifts, which was quite interesting to hear. The church members were ready with their comments, questions, and answers, and they were also quite willing to read scriptures when Michael called on them.

During the class, I took some time to notice the church building, since we would be spending a good bit of time there during the week. It was relatively small, probably 60 feet by 40 feet, if that much. The seating was simple metal folding chairs arranged in two sections. However, extended periods of sitting in these chairs transformed them from "simple" into "hard", as several people commented.

At the front of the room was a raised platform with a small podium for the speaker, although Michael did not use that for the Bible class or the worship service. To the left of the platform was an area with curtains on poles that extended about three feet above the platform. I figured this was a baptistry, but later found that it had no water. For baptisms, they would walk across the street to the bay. And to the right of the platform were two restrooms, separated from the main room by a small hallway. A small folding table in front of this wall served as the communion table.

Instead of glass, the windows of the building had operable louvers, which could be opened to allow air to flow through the building. These were essential, since like most buildings in Jamaica there was no air conditioning. And to the right of the building, a wooden roof and another wall had been added to create a children's classroom area, which would be used for the Vacation Bible School classes that our group presented in the evenings.

After Bible class ended, I was wondering what the worship service would be like, and how it would compare to our services back home. I soon became quickly familiar with it, however, because I was informed that I was to be the song leader, just about a minute before the service started. I asked if everyone knew the same songs that we sing back home, and I was told that they do. Mostly. But they sometimes sing them a little differently. Fortunately, the song book was what we used before our current book, so it looked familiar. And Michael quickly explained the format to me, which was also familiar: a few songs, a prayer, more songs, Communion, another song, the sermon, the invitation song.

Because I didn't have time to prepare, I just flipped through the book and picked out songs as we went along. Most of them were known by the Jamaicans; and for the few that weren't, there were enough of us Americans who knew them to make it through. So the service went well, thanks to a great lesson presented by Michael.

But of course, the most important part of a church is not the building, or the worship service, but rather it is the people. And we found the Lucea congregation to be a people of strong faith and sound Biblical knowledge. Friendly, if a bit shy, but they quickly opened up to us and welcomed us. Like most people of the area, they were not wealthy, but then wealth is not the most important thing. Over the course of the week, we got to know several of the members, as well as many of the children in the area. And those who had been before were able to renew acquaintances with familiar faces, almost as though they hadn't been separated by time or distance.

So although we were there to help the Jamaican church, seeing their faith and dedication was also a great encouragement to us.

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. - Ephesians 4:11-13

July 15, 2008

The day to leave for our mission trip to Jamaica arrived soon enough. And as far as we knew, we had everything packed and ready to go ahead of time. We even already had the cat at my parents' house for them to watch, so that we didn't have to transport her along with all our luggage on the morning we were to leave.

We got up early, hoping to give ourselves plenty of time and do all the last minute things that we might think of. As it turns out, we were ready almost an hour early! That extra hour of sleep sure would have been good. But it was also nice not to have to rush to get ready to leave.

Since we were ready early, we decided to go ahead and leave a bit early. We drove to my parents' house, which is where Jaylin would be staying for the week. And we would be leaving our car there, too, instead of paying for it to sit at the airport for a week. We got Jaylin's stuff unloaded and then sat around for a while before leaving to go to the airport.

The drive to the airport was rather uneventful. Being a Saturday morning, there wasn't much traffic on the road, as there would be on a work day. So we got there rather quickly.

And even though we were there before the 11:30 meeting time, we were far from the first ones there. I wanted to go ahead and check in, but Laura said we should wait, since several wanted to check in as a group. I also wanted to go get something to eat, even though I wasn't hungry yet, but Laura suggested that we wait until we were checked in for that.

Sohn, our group leader, was the last to arrive, and once he got there we got in line to check in and get our baggage checked. Laura and I ended up at the front of the line. And when the lady ran our passports through, she said there was a problem. It turns out that the name of someone in our group (we never did find out who) matched a name on the watch list. And since all our tickets were purchased together, they had to run all our passports through at the same time and get the whole group cleared before we could start checking in. Sounded simple enough, but it wasn't that easy. She eventually had to call somewhere and get some special clearance to let us through.

By that time, there really wasn't time to get anything to eat as far as a meal. So Laura and I got a bag of Doritos to split between us. And Jaylin got a few chips as well. Then we said our goodbyes and went through the security check to get to our gate.

The flight from Memphis to Miami was on a smaller plane, an American Eagle flight. And our group of 19 people made up about a third of the passengers on the plane, which was rather nice. Several of us were together in the back, which made for a nice flight. And the stewardess was friendly, too. And in Miami, the American Eagle flights land out on the runway, and then you board a bus to get to the terminal. Fun!

Once in Miami, we all had some time to get something to eat. Most everyone chose Pizza Hut, which was close to the gate for our next plane. Soon enough, we boarded that plane to Montego Bay, which was a much bigger plane than our last one. But as it turns out, we shouldn't have been in much of a hurry.

Once we had been on the plane for a while, the captain came over the speaker and said that there was a mechanical issue with the plane that they were looking at. So we waited. And waited. And waited some more. Turns out that they had to add some hydraulic fluid to the plane. Which slowed us down by over an hour. But we eventually were in the air and on our way to Jamaica.

Once we got going, the flight itself was good. And the hydraulics held up during the landing, so that was good, too.

Going through immigration and customs didn't cause too much trouble for anyone, and we were all delighted to find that all our luggage was there waiting for us.

We then went out to wait for the vans that would take us up the hill to the Hotel Montego, where we would be spending the week. It took a few trips to get everyone and their luggage there. And then a few more minutes to unload, get our room keys, and get everything situated.

The hotel staff had held dinner for us, even though it was after their 10:00pm quitting time, which was nice of them. And we started meeting the group from Chattanooga that we would be working with. Turns out their flight from Atlanta was delayed, also because of a hydraulic problem. Coincidence?

It was good to be there, and an interesting feeling to be in another country. The birds and night animals sounded different than back home. But our hotel room did have air conditioning, even if the hotel restaurant and lobby didn't. That would make sleeping a little easier.

Laura said that it took us 13 hours from the time we first left home until the time we got to the hotel in Jamaica. A long day of travel. But we made it safely and without too many problems. Which was something to be thankful for.

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. - Matthew 28:20.

July 8, 2008

When I was growing up, from time to time different men would come speak at our church. Men who spoke with funny accents. Men from places like Wiesbaden, West Germany (back when Germany was divided), or Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, or Milwaukee, Wisconsin. These men and others were missionaries that our church supported around the world, and they would come to give a report on their work.

To me, it was exciting to hear about how things were in different parts of the world - the different customs they had, the different difficulties they faced. And it was exciting to think about one day going on some sort of mission trip to some far away location. "Come visit us and help us in our work," they would always say.

In the last several years, different people from our congregation have been going on different mission trips. Some of them go to visit a missionary we support, such as in the South Pacific. Or some have been to the Ukraine. Our youth group has also made a few trips, often times just across the state to help out with Vacation Bible School at a small congregation.

But for the past two years, a group of our teens has been helping out with a group from the East Brainerd church in Chattanooga at a small church in Jamaica. After Laura and I talked about it a bit, we decided to see if we could go along on the next trip. Those in charge said we could, so we were all set.

Then the planning began. The Memphis group would be responsible for painting the church building, along with two nights of VBS for the children there. Once we finished painting, we would join the others in visiting the infirmary, playing soccer with the neighborhood kids, and visiting some of the church members. While we may not be the most outgoing people, we can definitely paint, so that sounded good to us.

We already had our passports, having gotten them last year before we went on a cruise, so that was no problem. Figuring out how to pack as lightly as possible, while still taking plenty of clothes for paiting, for visiting, and for evening church services, was a bit more tricky. But we received tips from several who had been through that before.

But then as the time to leave drew near, I started to have some doubts. Was this really for me? Would I be effective, or just in the way? What exactly was my reason for going? I would imagine those feelings are normal for someone going for the first time.

So the time to leave eventually arrived. But more about that later...

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." - Matthew 28:19-20

June 2, 2008

We were enjoying a nice, relaxing Memorial Day at home, when all of a sudden, the power went out. Quite unexpectedly, I might add. The sun was shining, the wind wasn't blowing much. You almost expect power outages during storms, but not on a sunny day.

I thought about calling the local power company, but I decided to hold off for a while. Even though we are in a rural area, our power system is usually very reliable. On the rare occasions when the power does go out, it is usually only out for a few minutes. So I decided to wait around and see if it were to come back on before calling.

And besides that, our neighbor across the street retired from the power company after a few decades of working there, so I figure if his power is out, he knows the right people to call. That really works well if it is dark outside and I can see that their lights are off too. But this was in the middle of the day, so I could just hope that he was affected as well.

So after waiting around a while, I decided to find something to do. But that wasn't easy, because most everything I do seems to require electricity to some degree. You don't really think about how much you use it until you don't have it. And just about everything I could think of involved some sort of electrical power.

Of course, watching TV was out, as was using the internet. We usually have grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch when we are home, but the small electric grill needs power, too. I did fold some clothes, although it was hard to hang things up in the dark closets. And then I noticed my cell phone needed charging, but I couldn't do that either. So I finally settled for reading a book.

I did eventually try to call the power company, but all I got was a busy signal. So apparently we weren't the only ones having trouble. And then a few minutes later, almost two hours after the power went off, it came back on. And went back off, and came back on again. For good this time.

It is funny to me how much we depend on electricity. At least until it isn't there. I know that electricity isn't necessarily a necessity, although we tend to think so these days. After all, people lived for thousands of years before electricity came around, and they made it just fine. Electricity has made our lives easier in some ways, and arguably better. But when it comes right down to it, we could survive without it.

Makes me wonder how many other things we have that we take for granted. Or things that we could just as well do without. I guess it takes not having something for a while to realize just how much you depend on it.

This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD." - Jeremiah 17:5

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